2023 European Short Course Championships: Day 5 Prelims Live Recap

2023 EUROPEAN SHORT COURSE SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• December 5-10, 2023
• Otopeni Olympic Swimming Complex, Bucharest, Romania
• Short Course Meters (25 meters)
• Prelims 2:30am (ET), Finals 11am (ET)
• Entries Book
• Live Results (Omega)
• Live Results (Microplus Timing)
• Eurovision Sport Livestream
• Day 1 Prelims Recap | Day 1 Finals Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Recap | Day 2 Finals Recap
• Day 3 Prelims Recap | Day 3 Finals Recap
• Day 4 Prelims Recap | Day 4 Finals Recap
• Day 5 Prelims Heat Sheet

Here comes the last full-length prelims session of the 2023 SC European Championships, as the last prelims session tomorrow will only feature 3 events. Today, however, we have another 9 events on the schedule, which are sure to be action packed.

DAY 5 PRELIMS SCHEDULE

• Men’s 50 breaststroke – heats
• Women’s 200 freestyle – heats
• Men’s 200 backstroke – heats
• Women’s 50 breaststroke – heats
• Men’s 100 freestyle – heats
• Men’s 100 individual medley – heats
• Women’s 50 butterfly – heats
• Mixed 4×50 freestyle relay – heats
• Men’s 800 freestyle – heats

The men’s 50 breast will feature World Record holder Huseyin Sakci of Turkey, the only man to have been under 25 seconds in the event. Sakci is seeded with his WR of 24.95, making him the top seed by a considerable margin. That being said, he’ll have plenty of competition, as Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi and Simone Cerasuolo present a threat.

The men’s 100 free should bee a really fun event as well. France’s Maxime Grousset is the top seed, coming in with a 45.41. There’s a ton of depth in the event, however, as there are 3 other swimmers seeded under 46 seconds, including Romania’s David Popovici, the World Record holder in the LCM 100 free.

The men’s 800 free will feature Daniel Wiffen, the European Record holder in the event.

MEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – HEATS

• World Record: Huseyin Sakci (TUR) – 24.95 (2021)
• European Record: Huseyin Sakci (TUR) – 24.95 (2021)
• SC Euros Record: Ilya Shymanovich (BUL) – 25.25 (2021)

TOP 16 QUALIFIERS:

1. Nicolo Martinenghi (Italy) – 26.04
2. Huseyin Sakci (Turkey) – 26.15
3. Caspar Corbeau (Netherlands) – 26.37
4. Simone Cerasuolo (Italy) – 26.43
5. Koen de Groot (Netherlands) – 26.46
6. Archie Goodburn (Great Britain) – 26.58
7. Bernhard Reitshammer (Austria) – 26.60
8. Mikka Ruohoniemi (Finland) – 26.79 (TIE)
9. Uros Zivanovic (Serbia) – 26.79 (TIE)
10. Nas Lia (Norway) – 26.90 (TIE)
11. Davin Lindholm (Finland) – 26.90 (TIE)
12. Andrius Sidlauskas (Lithuania) – 26.92
13. Snorri Einarsson (Iceland) – 27.04
14. Christoffer Haarsaker (Norway) – 27.09
15. Gregory Butler (Great Britain) – 27.15
16. Berkay Ogretir (Turkey) – 27.18

Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi led the field in the men’s 50 breast this morning, swimming a 26.04. Martinenghi has been 25.42 before, so this was a very solid morning swim. His Italian teammate, Simone Cerasuolo, came in 4th this morning in 26.43. Italy also had Federico Poggio, who came in 8th with a 26.77, however, as each country can only advance 2 swimmers beyond prelims, Poggio will not advance to semifinals.

World Record holder Huseyin Sakci clocked a 26.15 this morning, which was good for 2nd overall. Sakci is the only swimmer to have been under 25 seconds, holding the WR at 24.95.

Netherlands’ Caspar Corbeau was 3rd this morning in 26.37.

WOMEN’S 200 FREESTYLE – HEATS

• World Record: Siobhan Haughey (HGK) – 1:50.31 (2021)
• European Record: Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 1:50.43 (2017)
• SC Euros Record: Federica Pellegrini (ITA) – 1:51.17 (2009)

TOP 16 QUALIFIERS:

1. Freya Anderson (Great Britain) – 1:53.72
2. Barbora Seemanova (Czech Republic) – 1:54.57
3. Freya Colbert (Great Britain) – 1:54.89
4. Nikolett Padar (Hungary) – 1:55.54
5. Giulia D’Innocenzo (Italy) – 1:55.70
6. Valentine Dumont (Belgium) – 1:56.02
7. Janja Segel (Slovenia) – 1:56.09
8. Nele Schulze (Germany) – 1:56.18
9. Sofia Morini (Italy) – 1:56.33
10. Maya Werner (Germany) – 1:56.81
11. Lucile Tessariol (France) – 1:56.86
12. Victoria Catterson (Ireland) – 1:56.90
13. Katja Fain (Slovenia) – 1:56.96
14. SS Jorunnardottir (Iceland) – 1:57.05
15. Francisca Martins (Portugal) – 1:57.39
16. Signe Bro (Denmark) – 1:57.72

Great Britain’s Freya Anderson was very solid this morning, swimming a 1:53.72 to establish the top time of prelims by nearly a second. She put together a very conservative race, splitting 56.61 on the opening 100, then coming home in 57.11.

Great Britain also saw Freya Colbert pop a 1:54.89 for 3rd, advancing to semifinals as one of the top seeds. Lucy Hope finished right behind Colbert, swimming a 1:55.16. However, with Anderson and Colbert ahead of her, Hope is unable to advance to the semifinals.

Czech Republic’s Barbora Seemanova, the top seed coming into the event, swam a 1:54.57 for 2nd overall. She was out much faster than Anderson, swimming a 54.63 on the opening 100, which was almost 2 full seconds faster than Anderson.

Hungary’s Nikolett Padar was 5th this morning in 1:55.54 but with Hope unable to move on to semifinals, Padar will be the 4th seed tonight. Her time was good for a prelims swim, coming in a second off her best.

MEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE – HEATS

• World Record: Mitch Larkin (AUS) – 1:45.63 (2015)
• European Record: Arkady Vyatchanin (SRB) – 1:46.11 (2009)
• SC Euros Record: Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS) – 1:48.02 (2017)

TOP 16 QUALIFIERS:

1. Luke Greenbank (Great Britain) – 1:49.79
2. Cameron Brooker (Great Britain) – 1:51.85
3. Ole Braunschweig (Germany) – 1:52.58
4. Apostolos Siskos (Greece) – 1:53.03
5. Mewen Tomac (France) – 1:53.16
6. Samuel Toernqvist (Sweden) – 1:53.24
7. Yohann Ndoye-Brouard (France) – 1:53.28
8. Gabriel Lopes (Portugal) – 1:53.54
9. Kaloyan Levterov (Bulgaria) – 1:53.81
10. Lorenzo Mora (Italy) – 1:54.01
11. John Shortt (Ireland) – 1:54.21
12. Erikas Grigaitis (Lithuania) – 1:54.88
13. Markus Lie (Norway) – 1:54.91
14. Oleksandr Zheltiakov (Ukraine) – 1:54.93
15. Adam Jaszo (Hungary) – 1:55.02
16. Denis Popescu (Romania) – 1:55.86

Great Britain was on form in the men’s 200 back this morning, seeing Luke Greenbank and Cameron Brooker post the top 2 times. Greenbank was particularly good this morning, swimming a 1:49.79 to clock the top time. He was out in 53.99 on the first 100, then came home in 55.80. Greenbank is looking good as he heads into semifinals, as the Championship Record in the event is a 1:48.02.

Brooker was 1:51.85, getting out to a 54.31 on the first 100 and coming home in 57.44.

Hungary’s Adam Jaszo was the top seed coming into the event and narrowly made it through to the semifinals. Jaszo clocked a 1:55.02 this morning, coming in 17th overall. However, there were 2 swimmers ahead of her who were the 3rd swimmers from their countries and therefore couldn’t advance to semifinals. That left Jaszo as the 15th seed for semifinals tonight.

WOMEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – HEATS

• World Record: Ruta Meilutyte (LTU) – 28.37 (2022)
• European Record: Ruta Meilutyte (LTU) – 28.37 (2022)
• SC Euros Record: Ruta Meilutyte (LTU) – 29.10 (2013)

TOP 16 QUALIFIERS:

1. Benedetta Pilato (Italy) – 29.21
2. Eneli Jefimova (Estonia) – 29.46
3. Imogen Clark (Great Britain) – 29.50
4. Jasmine Nocentini (Italy) – 29.63
5. Veera Kivirinta (Finland) – 29.87
6. SR Slyngstadli (Norway) – 29.96
7. Klara Thormalm (Sweden) – 30.21
8. Andrea Podmanikova (Slovakia) – 30.29
9. Tara Vovk (Slovenia) – 30.40
10. Kara Hanlon (Great Britain) – 30.44 (TIE)
11. Diana Petkova (Bulgaria) – 30.44 (TIE)
12. Maria Romanjuk (Estonia) – 30.52
13. Olivia Klint Ipsa (Sweden) – 30.61
14. Schastine Tabor (Denmark) – 30.66
15. Maria Drasidou (Greece) – 30.70
16. Kiia Metsakonkola (Finland) – 30.90

Benedetta Pilato was on fire in the women’s 50 breast prelims this morning. The star Italian sprinter breaststroker clocked a 29.21, coming in just 0.11 seconds off the Championship Record of 29.10. She led a charge of Italians which featured 4 swimmers finishing in the top 9.

Jasmine Nocentini was the 2nd-fastest Italian this morning, swimming a 29.63 for 4th overall. She and Pilato will be the Italian duo that advances to semifinals tonight. Anita Bottazzo came in 7th with a 30.15, while Martina Carraro clocked a 30.28 for 9th but neither was able to advance to semis.

Estonia’s Eneli Jefimova, just weeks away from turning 17 years old, came in 2nd this morning in 29.46. Great Britain’s Imogen Clark was right behind her, swimming a 29.50 for 3rd.

MEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – HEATS

• World Record: Kyle Chalmers (AUS) – 44.84 (2021)
• European Record: Amaury Leveaux (FRA) – 44.94 (2008)
• SC Euros Record: Amaury Leveaux (FRA) – 44.94 (2008)

TOP 16 QUALIFIERS:

1. Alessandro Miressi (Italy) – 46.49
2. David Popovici (Romania) – 46.70
3. Jacob Whittle (Great Britain) – 46.85 (TIE)
4. Matt Richards (Great Britain) – 46.85 (TIE)
5. Nandor Nemeth (Hungary) – 46.88
6. Shane Ryan (Ireland) – 47.00
7. Maxime Grousset (France) – 47.05
8. Leonardo Deplano (Italy) – 47.09
9. Diogo Ribeiro (Portugal) – 47.17
10. Patrick Dinu (Romania) – 47.36
11. Nikola Acin (Serbia) – 47.41
12. Matej Dusa (Slovakia) – 47.68
13. Sean Niewold (Netherlands) – 47.74
14. Elias Persson (Sweden) – 48.04
15. Miguel Nascimento (Portugal) – 48.28
16. Max McCusker (Ireland) – 48.33

Italian Alessandro Miressi was the top performer in the men’s 100 free this morning, swimming a 46.49. Miressi was very strong on the back half of the race, splitting 23.88on the 2nd 50. The 2nd Italian to make it through was Leonardo Deplano, who came in 8th with a 47.09.

Romania’s David Popovici was 2nd this morning in 46.70. Popovici is, of course, the World Record holder in the LCM version of the 100 free with a 46.86.

Great Britain’s Jacob Whittle and Matt Richards tied for 3rd this morning, each swimming a 46.85. They swam the race nearly identically, as Whittle was 22.56/24.39 and Richards was 22.62/24.23.

Hungarian Nandor Nemeth was the only other swimmer who went under 47 seconds this morning, coming in 5th with a 46.88.

MEN’S 100 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – HEATS

• World Record: Caeleb Dressel (USA) – 49.28 (2020)
• European Record: Vlad Morozov (RUS) – 50.26 (2018)
• SC Euros Record: Peter Mankoc (SLO) – 50.76 (2009)

TOP 16 QUALIFIERS:

1. Andreas Vazaios (Greece) – 52.19
2. Giovanni Izzo (Italy) – 52.44
3. Helko Gigler (Austria) – 52.56
4. Ronny Brannkarr (Finland) – 52.78
5. Bernhard Reitshammer (Austria) – 52.86
6. Noe Ponti (Switzerland) – 52.89
7. Miroslav Knedla (Czech Republic) – 53.18
8. Ramon Klenz (Germany) – 53.27
9. Thomas Ceccon (Italy) – 53.38
10. Joe Litchfield (Great Britain) – 53.42
11. Vadym Naumenko (Ukraine) – 53.50
12. Alex Ahtiainen (Estonia) – 53.76
13. Daniel Nicusan (Romania) – 54.10
14. Mihai Gergely (Romania) – 54.69
15. Erik Nurmi (Finland) – 54.77
16. Adam Halas (Slovakia) – 55.03

Greece’s Andreas Vazaios posted the top time of the morning in the men’s 100 IM, swimming a 52.19. The breaststroke leg was where Vazaios really pulled into the lead this morning. He was also excellent on the freestyle 25.

Italian Giovanni Izzo was right behind, clocking a 52.44 for 2nd.

Austria was particularly strong in this event, seeing Helko Gigler come in 3rd with a 52.56. Bernhard Reitshammer came in 5th with a 52.86.

WOMEN’S 50 BUTTERFLY – HEATS

• World Record: Therese Alshammar (SWE) – 24.38 (2009)
• European Record: Therese Alshammar (SWE) – 24.38 (2009)
• SC Euros Record: Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 24.50 (2021)

TOP 16 QUALIFIERS:

1. Anna Ntountounaki (Greece) – 25.36
2. Tessa Giele (Netherlands) – 25.45
3. Sara Junevik (Sweden) – 25.51
4. Louise Hansson (Sweden) – 25.59
5. Emilie Beckmann (Denmark) – 25.65
6. Silvia di Pietro (Italy) – 25.67
7. Daryna Nabojcenko (Czech Republic) – 25.80
8. Angelina Kohler (Germany) – 25.81
9. Neza Klancar (Slovenia) – 25.82
10. Julie Jensen (Denmark) – 25.83
11. Jessia Felsner (Germany) – 25.94
12. Ellen Walshe (Ireland) – 25.99
13. Jana Pavalic (Croatia) – 26.19
14. Costanza Cocconcelli (Italy) – 26.21 (TIE)
15. Laura Lahtinen (Finland) – 26.21 (TIE)
16. Lillian Slusna (Slovakia) – 26.29

For the 2nd event in a row, Greece clocked the top time of the morning. Anna Ntountounaki swam a 25.36 in the women’s 50 fly, posting the fastest time. This was the tightest event we’ve seen so far this morning, as the top 16 swimmers all swam within a second of each other.

Netherlands’ Tess Giele swam a 25.45 for 2nd overall.

The Swedish duo of Sara Junevik and Louise Hansson were 3rd and 4th respectively, going 25.51 and 25.59. Sweden was the only country with a 3rd swimmer who finished in the top 16. Emmy Haellkvist came in 16th this morning with a 26.25 but, of course, won’t be able to advance to semifinals.

MIXED 4×50 FREESTYLE RELAY – HEATS

• World Record: France – 1:27.33 (2022)
• European Record: France – 1:27.33 (2022)
• SC Euros Record: Russian Federation – 1:28.31 (2019)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Great Britain – 1:30.61
2. Italy – 1:30.65
3. France – 1:30.75
4. Hungary  – 1:30.91
5. Netherlands – 1:31.41
6. Finland – 1:32.71
7. Slovakia – 1:33.37
8. Serbia – 1:33.52

Great Britain led what turned out to be a tight prelims of the mixed 200 free relay. Alexander Cohoon (21.63), Lewis Burras (20.85), Anna Hopkin (23.34), and Lucy Hope (24.79) combined for a 1:30.61, touching first by just 0.04 seconds this morning. We know Great Britain will be faster tonight when they bring in all their finals swimmers, most notably Ben Proud.

The Italian squad of Jasmine Nocentini (23.85), Leonardo Deplano (21.25), Giovanni Izzo (21.40), and Sara Curtis (24.15) teamed up for a 1:30.65, which was 2nd overall.

France was right there as well, clocking a 1:30.75 for 3rd. They were helped by a 20.90 from Maxime Grousset on the lead-off leg.

Hungary was also 1:30 this morning, taking 4th with a 1:30.91.

Though Sweden is historically strong in the sprint events, the Swedish team came in 10th this morning, landing as the 2nd alternate for finals.

MEN’S 800 FREESTYLE – HEATS

• World Record: Grant Hackett (AUS) – 7:23.42 (2008)
• European Record: Daniel Wiffen (IRL) – 7:25.96 (2022)
• SC Euros Record: Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA) – 7:27.94 (2021)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Daniel Wiffen (Ireland) – 7:33.38
2. Mykhailo Romanchuk (Ukraine) – 7:33.41
3. Felix Auboeck (Austria) – 7:34.00
4. Victor Johansson (Sweden) – 7:34.62
5. Nathan Wiffen (Ireland) – 7:34.78
6. David Aubry (France) – 7:34.89
7. Luca de Tullio (Italy) – 7:35.64
8. Dimitrios Markos (Greece) – 7:36.39

The men’s 800 free prelims turned out to be extremely tight, with the top 8 finishers of the morning separated by just 3.01 seconds. That should set up a great final for tomorrow night.

Daniel Wiffen, the European Record holder in the event, posted the top time of the morning, swimming a 7:33.38. Wiffen holds the ER at 7:25.96, a time which he swam last year. Of note, the Championship Record in the event is 7:27.94, which means Wiffen stands a good chance of taking it down in finals.

Ukraine’s Mykhailo Romanchuk was 2nd this morning in 7:33.41, just 0.03 seconds slower than Wiffen. Wiffen was notably out faster than Romanchuk, splitting a little over 2 seconds faster on the opening 200m, and holding a lead of more than a second through the 650m mark. To be clear, they weren’t in the same heat, this is just a split comparison.

Austrian Felix Auboeck was in the same heat as Romanchuk, taking 2nd in 7:34.00, which was good for 3rd overall. Auboeck was leading Romanchuk through the first 750 meters, but Romanchuk was much faster on the final 50.